Influence of harvest time on the soluble solids in minitomato fruits

Abstract

There are little reports about the effect of minitomato fruit harvest time throughout the crop cycle in relation to soluble solids– SS (°Brix) in minitomato fruits. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the soluble solids content of hybrids minitomato with habit of indeterminate versus determinate growth as a function of the harvest season. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, with six treatments: Mascot (indeterminate growth habit), TSV918 (indeterminate growth habit), TSV912 (indeterminate growth habit), TSV678 (indeterminate growth habit), TSV1278 (determinate growth habit), TSV910 (determinate growth habit). Three harvests were performed at different times (90, 120 and 150 DAS) in 6 x 3 factorial arrangement. During the first two harvest times (90 and 120 DAS) the highest levels SS were obtained. There were significant differences between the fruits collected at the end of the plants (150 DAS) cycle. The soluble solids content varied during harvest times (90, 120 and 150 DAS), and was lower at the last harvest (150 DAS). The growth habit influenced the SS content only at the first harvest time (90 DAS).